Tattoo artist Rick Webster opened Heads Up unique gift boutique a month ago with culture in mind.

Webster, who also works at the Electric Pencil shop in town, spent about $5,000 on remodeling the former business site of Mountain Music. He painted the outside bright colors. The inside is green.

"My whole deal is to support culture here. The corporate chains are putting small business out of business," he said. "There are no local, cool shops here."

He decided to go into his first business venture specifically targeting the 18- to 35-year-old demographic.

His father funded the operation, and Webster instantly became an interior decorator. He's watched between 20 and 100 people a day wander in and out.

The place is covered with incense, compact discs, sunglasses, keychains, jewelry, posters, T-shirts, stash boxes and even puzzles. In the adult-oriented section in back, water pipes show every type of mix of colors imaginable.

But don't get the wrong idea about his smoke shop, Webster insists.

The display offers a variety of hand-blown glass as artwork. He agreed there's a misconception his merchandise is associated with the drug culture.

"That's thought up by the baby boomers who went through the '60s," said Webster, now age 28. He's lived in Tahoe for a dozen years.

Webster awaits a license to sell tobacco. He's also planning on opening a cafe outside the 2212 Lake Tahoe Blvd. location.

Heads Up, which can be reached at (530) 541-4323, is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.



- Susan Wood can be reached at (530) 542-8009 or via e-mail at swood@tahoedailytribune.com